Thursday, June 26, 2008
Health officials are urging Alachua County residents to get tested. Nearly one-fourth of the Americans who have HIV don't even know they have it. Today and tomorrow mark National HIV day and the Alachua County Health Department is taking measures to educate and test people . Today from 5:30 pm to 8pm the health Department is administering free HIV and STD testing. Department Assistant Director Paul Meyers says people can find out the results of their examination within 20 minutes, thanks to OraQuick Advance technology.
The test is said to be 99.8 percent accurate.
Testing will continue on tomorrow from 9am to 4pm at the Alachua County Jail. Health Department Jail Liaison Chris Holliday says the OraQuick test gives a preliminary positive. If someone tests positve, more blood is drawn for a confirmation.
This year's theme is 'Take the Test, Take Control. Meyers says he hopes people will take advantage of the opportunities provided by the health department.
The Health Department is located at 224 SE 24th Street in Gainesville. But tomorrow's testing will take place at the Alachua County Jail located at 333 NE 39th Avenue in Gainesville.